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Foxes fertilize the subarctic forest and modify vegetation through denning
Jessica A Lang1, James D Roth1, John H Markham2
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 212B Biological Sciences Building, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada.
Scientific Reports
|February 5, 2021
Summary
Red foxes engineer Subarctic ecosystems by creating nutrient-rich dens. This denning activity enhances soil quality, boosting plant diversity and shrub cover in these low-fertility environments.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Soil Science
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Ecosystem engineers alter habitats non-trophically, influencing nutrient cycling and resource availability.
- Predator-mediated elemental cycling is crucial for plant diversity in low-fertility ecosystems.
- Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes L.), as top Subarctic predators, may engineer habitats through denning activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how red fox denning influences soil and vegetation characteristics in Subarctic woodland habitats.
- To determine if red fox dens create biogeochemical hotspots and impact local plant communities.
Main Methods:
- Soil and vegetation samples were collected from red fox dens and paired control sites near the Arctic treeline in Manitoba, Canada.
- Analysis included measurements of inorganic nitrogen, extractable phosphorus, soil respiration, pH, plant species diversity, and vegetation cover.
Main Results:
- Fox dens exhibited significantly higher levels of inorganic nitrogen (81% more) and extractable phosphorus (250% more) compared to control sites.
- Denning increased soil respiration and pH, indicating improved soil quality and nutrient availability.
- Den sites showed higher plant species beta-diversity, increased cover of woody shrubs, grasses, and weedy ephemerals, contributing to regional plant species richness.
Conclusions:
- Red fox denning significantly modifies soil biogeochemistry, creating nutrient-rich 'hotspots'.
- These modifications enhance soil quality, promoting greater plant diversity and productivity in Subarctic ecosystems.
- Predator denning is an important, underappreciated mechanism for ecosystem engineering, impacting plant communities beyond direct predation effects.
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